By Gina Martinez
The American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk is holding its walk Sunday in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The walk attracts thousands of local breast cancer survivors, caregivers, volunteers, and corporate and community members who make donations supporting cancer research and patient services offered throughout Queens.
The annual walk funds breast cancer research, offers free patient-caregiver services, provides in-depth cancer information, and supports the law movement working to give women the care they need. It has raised hundreds of millions of dollars nationwide millions since 1984, when Massachusetts cancer survivor Margery “Margie” Gould Rath held the first benefit as a way to celebrate fellow cancer survivors and raise funds for ACS.
According to the American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2017, an estimated 252,710 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 40,610 will die from the disease this year. About 2,470 men are also expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer n 2017 with 460 will die from the disease. Since 1993, more than 13 million supporters have raised more than $810 million to help end breast cancer. Today, walks are held in more than 250 communities nationwide.
Last year 12,000 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Queens participants raised $645,670 for ACS.
Astoria resident Vicky Rego, who is currently in active treatment for breast cancer, will walk for the first time this Sunday. She has personally raised $1,800 in funds and is a successful team leader with Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Queens. Rego is currently waiting for her treatment to begin and said she got involved with Making Strides when she went to ACS to get a wig from their wig program and look good, feel good program.
“I started to get more involved because I saw it as a way to give back,” she said. “As I signed up me, my gym partners signed up in my honor and because it’s such a great cause. We’ve been able to raise money through social media and emails.”
Rego is looking forward to Sundays walk.
“I’m excited and nervous,” she said, “ As far as treatments go, I’m nervous about fatigue, but I’m excited to be participating because I’m an active person and exercise is an important part of our lives and well-being. Also because it’s for such a great cause and we’ll be able to raise money for it.”
Registration for the walk begins at 8 a.m. at 111-01 Corona Ave. and the walk itself begins at 10 a.m. There will be performances from local artist Diva Nation, Sha Collins and the St. John’s University Pep Band. The five-mile walking route will pass by well-known Flushing landscapes, including the Unisphere, Queens Zoo, Queens Musuem and Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Reach Gina Martinez by e-mail at gmart
